Germany’s Deep House Topliner, Teenage Mutants Take Us Back to the 90’s with “Take Me Higher”

A powerful force in the scene, German deep house DJ-Producer Teenage Mutants continuously impresses us with each of his releases. This time, it’s “Take Me Higher,” released October 9th on Hed Kandithat’s got us shuffling across the dance floor. An up-beat track with groovy vocals and waves of elevating percussion, we’ve had this record on loop all month long!

In 2013, Teenage Mutants came in with a bang with “Hanging On,” a collaboration with OFF Recordings’ founder Andre Crom, which climbed straight to #1 on the Beatport Deep House Charts. Since then, he’s kept us dancing all year ‘round with hits like “People” in collaboration with Purple Disco Machine.

There’s no dispute — Teenage Mutants is a busy guy! With his debut album set to release in the new year on Oliver Koletzki’s Stil vor Talent label, and a packed travel schedule that leaves us jet-lagged just thinking about it, we felt very lucky to snag this one-man show for an interview to discuss his latest release. Here’s what went down:

“Take Me Higher” is an infectiously groovy track, reminiscent of the disco days. What sort of journey or effect were you hoping it would have on listeners?

The track should take you back to the good old 90’s, with its simple hypnotic piano chords, and female vocal loops. I want listeners to for sure have a good time, where and whenever they listen to it!

When you’re producing a track, do you envision the audience experiencing it on the other end? Or do you just go into your own creative space and accept whatever comes out?

After a few sessions, I show a track to some friends and test it during my gigs. But the most important thing is, that I like it first.

Your album is being released in the new year – can we expect more songs like “Take Me Higher”? What else will we take from the album?

It will take more time to release my album than expected. I’m really really picky with my music. I think it will be in the middle of 2016, or at least the end of next year. It will be a great mix of different styles, like french house, down tempo, techno and house.

You do a lot of work with Purple Disco Machine. How did your initial collaboration with one another come about? What do you think it is about your partnership that has resulted in such success?

Actually, PDM and I started to chat on Facebook and then decided to do something together. I think we’ve seen success because we each come up with unique ideas for tracks. Without good ideas, you won’t have any success.

I don’t dig into ADE… the best meetings are unrehearsed!

When you’re leading a busy touring schedule as you have in 2015, what sort of things do you do to take care of your inner self and stay rooted?

Nothing special. Touring is like a 24/7 Job. Airports, Taxis, Hotels. You have to get enough sleep….but that never works… So actually, I am tired every day of the tour… and hungry!

You just came back from Amsterdam Dance Event a few weeks ago. What excites you most about the conference/ festival?

I only stay for one day. I don’t dig into ADE. If I want to meet someone, I use Skype. During ADE, you will see a lot of people there who have nothing to do with the scene, and some people who want show their presence and network. The best meetings are unrehearsed.

I don’t take too many elements from the original… it’s important to create something new with a remix.

When you come across a track that you want to remix, what sounds really draw you in? Which remix(es) are you most proud of to this day?

It’s different all the time. It depends on the stems I get. If I get vocals, I mostly start with them. If not, I start to create a melody and baseline and then build some drums. Actually, I don’t take too many elements from the original, only the most important things. It’s important to create something new with a remix.